Mechanism for breast pumping garment access

Abstract

The invention pertains to a garment that facilitates breast feeding and pumping. The garment includes a chest flap portion that is configured to fold away from shoulder strap portions when the chest flap is unfastened from the shoulder straps. When the flap is folded away from the shoulder straps, the user's breasts are exposed for nursing or pumping while the garment otherwise remains in place on the user. The chest flap may be selectively fastened to the shoulder straps through fasteners such as zippers and snaps.

The invention claimed is: 
     
         1 . A garment comprising:
 (a) a right shoulder strap;   (b) a left shoulder strap;   (c) a chest flap;   (d) a first right-side fastener comprising a first right-strap portion attached to the right shoulder strap and a first right-flap portion attached to the chest flap; and   (e) a first left-side fastener comprising a first left-strap portion attached to the left shoulder strap and a first left-flap portion attached to the chest flap;   (f) wherein the first right-side fastener is configured to selectively fasten the chest flap to the right shoulder strap;   (g) wherein the first left-side fastener is configured to selectively fasten the chest flap to the left shoulder strap; and   (h) wherein the chest flap is configured to fold away from the right shoulder strap and the left shoulder strap when not fastened to the right shoulder strap and the left shoulder strap.   
     
     
         2 . The garment of  claim 1  further comprising:
 (a) a second right-side fastener comprising a second right-strap portion attached to the right shoulder strap and a second right-flap portion attached to the chest flap; and 
 (b) a second left-side fastener comprising a second left-strap portion attached to the left shoulder strap and a second left-flap portion attached to the chest flap. 
 
     
     
         3 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein the first right-side fastener is a zipper and the first left-side fastener is a zipper. 
     
     
         4 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein the second right-side fastener is a snap and the second left-side fastener is a snap. 
     
     
         5 . The garment of  claim 2  wherein:
 (a) the first right-side fastener is a zipper and the first left-side fastener is a zipper; and 
 (b) the second right-side fastener is a snap and the second left-side fastener is a snap. 
 
     
     
         6 . The garment of  claim 1  wherein:
 (a) the first right-side fastener comprises at least one of the group consisting of snaps, press studs, studs, safety pins, brooches, hooks and eyes, eyelets, frog fasteners, toggle fasteners, grommets, cords, buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, hook-and-pile fasteners, touch fasteners, tape, magnets, eye hooks, hooks, fabric ties, lace, string, poppers, and buckles; and 
 (b) the first left-side fastener comprises at least one of the group consisting of snaps, press studs, studs, safety pins, brooches, hooks and eyes, eyelets, frog fasteners, toggle fasteners, grommets, cords, buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners, hook-and-pile fasteners, touch fasteners, tape, magnets, eye hooks, hooks, fabric ties, lace, string, poppers, and buckles.